If there’s anything that I know, I know for a fact I am so glad that I waited for my first boat show set up to be with my TBYM guys. Yes, you read right. After all the boat shows I’ve gone to and the years I’ve been in this industry, I have never ever set up nor helped with tear down (which I’ll get to experience that part on Sunday).

Wednesday after our normal work day, we went over and started setting up. Tables, chairs, brochures, biz cards, cooler full of drinks, our credidentials, etc. Since we had two locations (outside&inside), we’d go back and fourth. This is our GMS boat where we demo the Seakeeper product.

Set up is literally just like when in my theatre world we have to tear down the set at our rehearsal spot and put it back up at our normal theatre space. It’s exactly that. So, of course, I enjoy that enough that I’m ready for more!

THURSDAY–which is normally burrito day at Tijuana Flats (haha)–was the first day at the show. I was so happy (and still that way, although a little more tired).

I walked around so many times trying to get leads for them, photos spread among 3 sources, and anything that’d spark my interest for BSG.

We are giving away a Yeti cooler and so is our neighboring booth and a few others. I should do some sort of article on popular items to give away. The only one will be a cooler… that’s how… COOL it is. Yeah.

Thursday was an interesting day. Friday just sparked the flame. I’ve officially talked to more people than I’ve ever talked to (well, actually, that’s kinda a lie) but I feel so… established and purposeful the last two days. So thank you my guys at TBYM for helping me gain traction once again, and for putting me back on the path of passion for this industry and boat shows. (Thank goodness I am working with a group of guys who enjoy the shows! It helps.)

I was so happy to see older family – IMG – who are the dealers for this beautiful Formula boat that you see there.

For a while I lost my touch (and passion) but I’ve got it back. Guess how? Because I start taking pictures of the names of the boat. If you’re going to be a hobo, just be the best kind. A salty one.

I found Jimmy Buffett. There isn’t anything better than finding Jimmy at a boat show. Ahhh. I just love that man and his lyrics. (Have any of you bought his latest cd?)

I found this gem. A crab tattoo. Amazing. Yeah, I’m pretty much 5 but I don’t really care what you say about me. This (and looking at crab jewelry) only made me miss Eisenhower so very much, so here’s his photo when he saw I was home for more than five seconds yesterday.

I’m really in love with that boat mostly because of its colors…and how royal purple it is. But seriously, I want to learn all about this boat on Sunday.

I have to mention – please go friend my friends at Great Lakes Boating Mag (especially their Instagram) because they are featuring my photos and probably some video come Sunday. I’m super excited to be working with them as their source from my land to theirs.

It’s been a long, weird and what I call a successful day… I must post this before I crash (I’m already there, I hope this blog entry makes sense) and have to wake up super early for theatre duties. I will have the rest of the boat show dirt on Sunday or Monday.

AT LAST the Tampa Show—that was postponed in September due to Hurricane Irma—finally happened this past weekend.

This show—which is definitely one of my favorites—is held in either Sept or Oct of every year at the Tampa Convention Center. Tickets are usually in the range of $12-15, I think it’s $12 if you order online. (I’m not sure because I’ve only had badges from working the show.) They have event pay for parking around the center and elsewhere. www.tampaboatshow.com

Let me tell you… I had an amazing time. It’s been several shows ago since I went inside any of the boats (because there was a time I was able to attend about 12 boat shows a year and toured all of the boats that I could) but after a tiny break, I went in a few this time. I smelt the new boat smell, day dreamt about my future boat, reminisced about looking out the windows of bunkbeds at night in my younger days when I’d stay on a houseboat… and I really truly think I got my passion back. Or at least dug up some of that old buried treasure and raised my anchor above the water so my heart could open back up.

Me!

Perfect writing station for me!

This as well!

I saw my current work family. I saw my old work family. I saw my old work family’s sister company which is ultimately family. I saw some other friends that were working booths there. I just saw a lot of family… and it made me so happy. This boat show made me so happy, and was exactly what I needed.

My current company Tampa Bay Yacht Management with their other company Gulf Marine Stabilizers doing SeaKeeper demos.

I don’t know if any of you were following the “I’M LOGAN IT” project boat aka “FISH TACOS” from Ship Shape TV and Taco Metals. They were there with the boat and people could register to win the boat. The winner will be announced at the Fort Lauderdale Show in November. (Is it necessary to say I think this boat is meant to be mine? Because I already want tacos every.single.day so seeing this makes me hungry for… tacos^2! It’s a serious math problem! Ha.) But, in boating terms, this is a lovely, lovely boat. I saw some of the videos of where each of the brands (who have their logo on the boat) contributed their product to fix it up. Such a great thing they’re doing too for the IM LOGAN IT foundation.

Another cool thing that the Tampa Boat Show decided to do was a “Boater’s Pass” where everyone who had it could scan their barcode and win prizes and such. I didn’t really see how it worked, since I didn’t have one, but I’d be curious on how well it went. Bueller?

They had their normal things: Discover Boating and their classes out on the water, seminars, family fun day, the Buccaneers stopped by on Sat, Progressive’s set up for kids, Geico’s boat, etc. I saw a lot of familiar faces, and somehow, I still missed some company’s booths. I don’t know how it happens but it does. Also, I think everyone needs a boat with a bar type in it. What do you think?

And here are a few photos from the poetic side of me…. This photo spoke to me because of all the different reflections that just seemed like a perfect boat art opportunity.

I didn’t really realize this until later that day, but following my favorite day of this year Oct Fri 13th was the 14th–a death anniversary of a great teacher friend of mine from high school. This next photo I took reminds me so much of the quote she once said to me. “When you look through the window, you don’t see the whole world.” But… every time I’m on a boat and look out the window there, I see my entire future–my dreams coming true–and that is my whole world. I really miss you Elaine!

That concludes this episode with Boat Show Girl attending the Tampa Boat Show. It was a more relaxed year for me at this one, usually I talk to a whole lot more people, but I just kind of took in not having attended a show in a while and really enjoyed myself. I guess even I need to do that once in a while.

Over the next few weeks and maybe months, I will be “pivoting” and what that means in the business world is that when one business step / project / plan doesn’t work, you pivot, meaning change it. So I am going to be making little changes here and there to make me–Boat Show Girl–exactly what I need to be.

For I am–after all–the Captain at the helm of my own life where compasses and maps do not exist because sometimes the beauty is drifting, getting lost and dropping anchor into the unknown.

Going to IBEX this year was a little different. Last year, and the previous years, I kind of felt like I didn’t belong because I wasn’t a “professional” per se, but this year…I personally felt a little different, and accomplished a few personal goals.

So I ran into Volvo, and asked them what they planned on doing with Seven Marine. They will be keeping both brands separate, so when we got to boat shows, nothing’ll change. Which is good. There was mention of keeping up the improvement of the brand. And, I even threw in a little advice to the guy I was talking to… don’t screw up my favorite brand. Haha!

I met Dana from SureShade and I really enjoyed seeing one of my favorite products in action. They also handed out the best gift baggie which included: a mouse pad, a pen, a keychain, sunglasses rope thing, etc.

I caught up with someone I chatted with last year, but no update about the results of statements yet.

I talked to several people about what I–as BSG–want to do and one person seemed really interested in my idea and I think really truly got what I was wanting to do. I haven’t sent the follow up email yet, but I will for sure.

Anne and I got to chat for a moment outside at the IBEX opening party. This was the first time I got to stay for that, and I spent time with my friend Graham from Canada, his dad and Mike from Tampa’s very own Freedom Boat Club. It was a good time. {Needless to say, Anne’s advice on continuing to do this Boat Show Girl thing has really lit more fire under me. I need to do this, and I need to do this well.}

I’m a little bit clearer now on what I need to be doing. I would like to be a recruiter person for the marine industry schools. I think if I got a chance to help the students decide where they’d like to be, and explore their interests in the industry, it would help me personally (where I never know what direction I’m going because I like to do so many things) as well as fulfilling that earlier desire of being like a teacher but without all of the schooling.

Education is a huge part of who I am — especially the literature part. I want to know people’s stories and why they love the water so much and what brings them to it.

I definitely want to be recognized as a writer, which I have lapsed on very badly, and I do apologize for that. I am, however, taking a writing class at my theatre and it’s really helping to inspire me to write about things I fell short on passion. So it’s coming back.

I know that I want to find those couple of brands (maybe ONE or TWO unlike companies in each area) to help promote and become a brand ambassador for….

Since I am raising a hermit crab, it is really important to me for the love of all animals, especially sea animals. I would love to do something with that in honor of my baby E.

And, last but not least, I want to be someone who helps change this industry for the better and get recognized for an upcoming under 40… before it’s too late.

I know I have had many, many set backs this year. It’s been the worst year I’ve ever had, but I am most determined to never look back at that but look forward, move on, and become a better me for you — every day.

A few days ago, I went to Gulfport’s library for a viewing of A Plastic Ocean. While I know pollution is growing since there are far more people on this planet, I had no idea it was this bad.

In the movie –

A whale died because it had swallowed such a large piece of plastic.

They opened up several small dead animals and what was inside their stomachs? Piece after piece after piece of plastic. The mother birds who feed their babies were trying to do what nature tells them, but yet, they fed them their fate.

Also, if you eat seafood, guess what? You’re eating what they eat too.

Guys, this is a serious issue, and it should be top priority especially for those who live by any body of water. Even if there’s trash near the coastline (on land by lakes, or beaches) if something catastrophic happened all of that trash will end up in those bodies of water, then it will end up in our sea animals and they will die. I don’t want to see sea critters to be on an endangered species list, especially if it is something like fish that people need to eat and it’s a sustainable business for a whole lot of people around the world.

The only good thing coming out of this being a topic is what some of the countries are now beginning to do with recycled plastics (and other things that can be recycled or trash being dealt with).

If you’ve watched any of the news by some of the eco people—straws, plastic bags and bottles seem to be the biggest problem. My town of Gulfport (FL) is testing out the ‘no plastic straws’ policy. They have paper straws (the other alternative) and of course now there’s metal or alum straws that you can purchase elsewhere. If you’re like me, and want to use a straw (because, ew, drinking straight from the cup while out), we’re going to have to go to the alternative because it’s kinder for the environment.

For someone who is a lover of animals, the ocean, an employee in this industry and a mom to a crab, I feel it is definitely in my duty (now that this movie has woken me up) to do everything I personally can to less contribute to the problem.

As BoatShowGirl—I pledge from here on out that I will become more eco friendly. I will recycle what I can, I will attend as many ‘pick up trash on the beaches’ as possible, and I will become an advocate to save our water…because without water, there is no life, and life must go on.

I truly believe that A Plastic Ocean should be watched by anyone in the marine industry, live by any large bodies of water (or if you vacation there), as well as shown in middle/high school science classes. It is something that needs to be taught to younger people as they will be the ones that’ll suffer from the past generations mistakes.

If you’re reading this and have any questions or if you’re a part of the advocacy and want to share your product or company you may comment below. I am looking to connect with those in my area of Florida (Tampa Bay).

Everything has changed since my last post. I am so pleased to say—after about 2 months from middle of April to the middle of June—I am back in the industry working with a different company. It’s a smaller company, I get to do a variety of things, and they love boat shows. So I’m ecstatic about that last part. I’m only part time there, which allows me to do a plethora of different things. I’m way less stressed and a lot more happy than I’ve been in a while.

I have also decided that it is going to be a permanent part of my BoatShowGirl schedule to take a break around April/May to July/August. There might be a few times where I’ll give updates, but that’s about it, especially since all the main shows are in the spring and fall.

The reason for my break is that the other half of my life belongs to my love of performing arts (writing, theatre, music, art) and I am heavily into theatre right now. We just finished our summer show that happens every year and it took 99% of my free time, but it’s the funnest and it’s my favorite. Plus, it’s the only show out of our full season of plays that I get to work with at least 40 different people.

There’s also a positive spin in all of this. I have a business partner from another job I’m doing, and he loves the water as well, so I sort of have a boat show partner (finally). I think it’s his plan to keep me walking the straight line where I can hit my true potential with this brand.

The guys at World of Boating really wants me to do something with a uniform, and I do plan on doing that…finally….this year.

I’ve been catching up with Trade Only Today and Boating Industry after taking this break, and wow, the news I have been reading!!!

Yamaha buys Bennett Marine

Volvo buys Seven Marine

Malibu buys Cobalt

I mean. I really don’t know what to say. In one point, it’s worrying me that these buys are happening, and in another it’s like are they in trouble and these companies with more money are rescuing them? Essentially, we just lost 3 individual companies in this industry because each one is merging with another.

How’s this going to effect the market now? How will the brand be able to continue being the brand? Will everything be restructured? Will these brands that’s being acquired just disappear?